Browsing by Author "Lalika, Makarius C. S."

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Assessing the impact of human activities on the health condition of the Lukosi River catchment using selected physico-chemical parameters as indicators of water quality
(Frontiers Water, 2024-11-15) Nyagongo, Ahmad A.; Ndibalema, Vedasto G.; Lalika, Makarius C. S.
The Lukosi River catchment plays a crucial role in the economic and ecological framework of the country, serving as a major contributor to the Great Ruaha River (GRR). This study aimed to assess the impact of human activities on the health of the Lukosi River by analyzing key water parameters. Three sampling sites across the catchment were selected, and water samples were collected and analyzed using the American Public Health Association technique. A one-sample t-test was used to measure the significance of the difference between the measured water quality parameters and the water quality criteria established by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The results revealed mean values for various parameters: pH (8.67 ± 0.57), temperature (24.803 ± 1.361°C), EC (93.30 ± 3.34 mgL−1), BOD (14.85 ± 1.49 mgL−1), TDS (46.95 ± 1.55 mgL−1), total hardness (27.53 ± 1.28 mgL−1), DO (3.4 ± 0.53 mgL−1), turbidity (109.83 ± 40.99 mgL−1), NO2 (79.04 ± 0.73 mgL−1), Cu (6.07 ± 0.60 mgL−1), Ca (7.88 ± 0.36 mgL−1), Mn (0.16 ± 0.07 mgL−1), Cl (7.58 ± 3.97 mgL−1), F (0.12 ± 0.0008 mgL−1), SO4 (20.42 ± 4.12 mgL−1), Mg (1.92 ± 0.13 mgL−1), Zn (0.14 ± 0.11 mgL−1), Fe (3.56 ± 0.15 mgL−1), and NH3 (4.67 ± 0.51 mgL−1). Parameters such as DO, turbidity, NH3, NO3, and BOD significantly (p = 0.05) exceeded the permissible limits set by the TBS and the WHO. Furthermore, elements including Fe and Cu exceeded allowable limits. Moreover, the WQI was used to indicate that the water in the catchment is unsuitable for sustaining aquatic organisms and is unfit for domestic use. Household questionnaires and direct observations identified key human activities in the catchment: gardening (78.3%), agriculture (68%), livestock keeping (50%), sand mining (21%), and brick-making (21%). Less prevalent were car washing (7%) and fishing (4%). These findings underscore the urgent need for conservation efforts and sustainable management practices to safeguard the Lukosi River catchment (LRC).
Resilience in climate stressed environment through water grabbing
(Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020, 2020) Lalika, Makarius C. S.
Climate change (CC) is currently considered as the most severe and devastating environmental catastrophe facing the globe. CC is the latest environmental driver of global environmental change causing rainfall shortage and water stress across the globe. This chapter reports a study carried out on water grabbing as solution for food production and water shortages in CC-stricken areas along the Pangani River Basin (PRB) in Tanzania. Results indicated that the mean yields before water grabbing were statistically (P < 0.001) higher than yields after water grabbing. Drivers for water grabbing include climate change and variability in some parts of the world, human population dynamics, change of consumption patterns, economic growth, and technological advancement. The effects of CC and water grabbing include loss of some aquatic flora and fauna, water use conflicts, and poor crop production. It is recommended that smallholder farmers have to adapt to drought-resistant crops and short-term seed varieties and carry out groundwater research and rainwater harvesting. More research should be carried out so as to know the link between CC and the decline of rainfall and water flow. Moreover, efforts should be made to conserve the Kilimanjaro Mountain to restore the vanishing ice cape.